How to Choose the Right Car Accident Lawyer in Miami

In the United States, there are nearly 6 million car accidents each year. If you do the math, this breaks down to roughly 16,450 per day. Miami experienced approximately 64,495 total accidents in 2019, with fatalities of around 335.

Why So Many Car Accidents?

These are staggering numbers and they continue to rise. Unfortunately, many of these accidents have been directly related to drug or alcohol use but there are many other causes as well. Some of the other common causes include reckless driving, improper lane changes, and failure to yield appropriately.

In Miami there are additional factors that add to the high incident of car crashes: tourists, who are unfamiliar with the area, roads and traffic patterns and a high number of bars and resorts, which cause distractions and increase the number of intoxicated drivers.

Getting into a car accident is stressful enough without having to worry about how things are going to be paid for and fighting insurance. Using a car accident lawyer will help to get things settled properly and take the weight of handling it off of your shoulders.

5 Tips to Choose a Car Accident Lawyer in Miami – A Step-By-Step Guide

There are many lawyers out there that promise they will get the best results. How can you possibly choose a lawyer? Leighton Panoff Law is here to help. As you work through the process of choosing a lawyer, go through these steps to help you make the right choice for your defense.

1.   Look for Experience

One of the primary factors that you will want to take into consideration in choosing a car accident lawyer in Miami is experience. You need a law firm like Leighton Panoff Law that has been in these scenarios and has been successful with car accident cases in the past. Always check out whether a law firm has success in cases like yours.

Verdicts and settlements are a great way to see that experience. Here are some of ours:

$8,000,000 Award – truck-auto crash on turnpike

$7,400,000 verdict – Trucking crash results in amputated leg

$6,000,000 Settlement – Death of Pedestrian

$5,000,000 Settlement – Auto Crash – Bone Fractures

What you really want to avoid is someone right out the gate of law school that makes big promises but has never had to fight this type of fight. Obviously, each lawyer has to learn somewhere but you probably don’t want your case to be the experiment to find out if the firm can handle the heat. There is a huge value in experience, skill and reputation that makes a difference in the way a case is investigated, worked up, litigated and tried or settled. Insurance companies settle cases based on the skill, reputation and results of the lawyers handling the case. Look to see whether the attorneys are recognized and respected in the legal community.

Experienced accident lawyers will have tried cases and they will be familiar with what it takes to negotiate on your behalf and when to settle a case as well.

2.   Referrals Tell a Story

It’s ok to reach out for referrals in this situation. After all, the bottom line and the end result will affect your pocket. Think about it. When you want to try something new or you’re looking for an answer, how often do you ask others for their recommendations?

You should plan to do the same when it comes to choosing a car accident lawyer in Miami. Get recommendations before you commit and don’t be afraid to reach out to attorneys you are considering and ask questions. You might even be able to ask them for referrals to get first-hand accounts of experiences.

Do your research and don’t just jump in with the first lawyer you hear about or the one that you see on the TV ads. In fact, you probably have an abundance of choices. Use recommendations and referrals to help you narrow down the options.

You can also take the time to look into a few names you know or recognize. Look for reviews and referrals online and check out the specific details to see what you can find about them. While this isn’t always reliable, it could be a good way to pinpoint any potential great options or dismiss any as well.

3.   Communication is Key

It’s really awful to be waiting on results or action and to sit around having to idea what is going on. Be sure to choose a car accident lawyer in Miami that will be willing and able to communicate effectively with you.

You will want to know where the process is, what expectations are, a timeline, and to generally be kept in the know with any updates and relevant information. If you call to check in, you want a lawyer that will return your call or your messages and emails.

Understand that you are probably not their only client so have reasonable expectations but a lawyer that communicates and returns calls or emails is absolutely essential. Remember they are being paid to do their job and that includes professional customer service.

At Leighton Panoff Law, we pride ourselves on our customer service. We make every effort to keep in touch with our clients and return calls in a timely manner.

4.   Are They Ready to Fight for You?

Insurance companies will look for every loophole and means to escape a full payout that they can possibly find. The insurance company’s intent is to settle for as little as possible. The car accident lawyer you find will need to be willing to fight for you.

They might have to play a little bit of hardball. An attorney will help you get the best settlement rather than just taking the first number that the insurance company offers. An experienced lawyer will know when an offer is a lowball offer and they will go to bat for you.

As you get recommendations and do your research, look for a lawyer that has a reputation for getting better settlements and being willing to push the insurance companies.

5.   Easy to Work With

Finally, you’re probably going to have to spend some time with the lawyer that you choose and be willing to work closely with them. You want someone that you can stand to work with through the process. If you don’t like your lawyer, this could be a miserable process for you overall.

You use this same concept when you use other paid goods and services. You use a company or a contractor that you like and trust so do the same as you pick out a lawyer. While they may not be perfect, you certainly don’t want to be stuck working with someone you completely dislike.

Choose the Right Car Accident Lawyer

Leighton Panoff Law is here for you. John Leighton is a board certified trial lawyer who is nationally known for handling personal injury and death cases, including car accident cases in Miami, Florida. We have successfully obtained some of the largest settlements in the Florida area and we take our cases very seriously. Both Mr. Leighton and partner Max Panoff are recognized by Florida SuperLawyers as being among the most skilled and recognized in Miami for their handling of accident cases. Mr. Leighton has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for over a dozen years and selected for many awards like Florida Legal Elite and “Top Lawyers” in The South Florida Legal Guide.

Don’t fight this fight alone. Find the experts who will fight alongside you every step of the way.